3 UWSP dorms get all-gender bathrooms

A video tour of an all-gender bathroom at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. (June 22, 2015)
Lauren French/Stevens Point Journal Media

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Gender Inclusive Housing Committee initiated an all-gender restroom program to include students who don’t identify with a specific gender.(Photo: Contributed photo)

Editor's note: The language in this story was changed to more accurately reflect how the purpose of all-gender bathrooms is about serving all gender identities.

STEVENS POINT – Most public buildings have bathroom accommodations for both men and women — but what about those who don't identify with conventional gender identities?

In an effort to make these students feel more comfortable, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is installing all-gender bathrooms in three residence halls in a new pilot program.

Tiffany Koeshall, hall director of Smith Hall, said the all-gender bathrooms are part of a wider effort to make as many students feel safe as possible.

"When you don't feel safe in your space, it impacts your academics, your social life, your home life, and they're all interconnected," Koeshall said. "... If there's a way we can best serve the student, we're going to strive to do that."

UWSP's Gender Inclusive Housing Committee opened suite-style dorms to all genders last year. Upperclassmen who wish to live in a suite room can have roommates of any gender.

To provide a similar inclusiveness to younger students, Smith Hall, Watson Hall and Steiner Hall will each have one all-gender bathroom and one gender-specific bathroom on the second floor.

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Smith Hall is one of three UW-Stevens Point residence halls to receive an all-gender bathroom. The bathrooms will be available for use this fall.(Photo: Lauren French/Stevens Point Journal Media)

Koeshall said there isn't a big difference between the two bathrooms in terms of design. While gender-specific bathrooms have curtained shower stalls, all-gender bathrooms will have lockable stall doors for safety purposes.

Because there wasn't a lot of remodeling to do, Koeshall said the program was affordable. All-gender door signs were $30 each, and the university's facilities department already had stall doors and locks.

Koeshall said the Gender Inclusive Housing Committee hasn't received any negative feedback on the project.

The university also has future bathroom inclusivity plans, Koeshall said. May Roach Hall and Smith Hall are scheduled for renovation, and the Gender Inclusive Housing Committee plans to place a private, all-gender bathroom on each floor of those dorms. The plan was delayed because of budget cuts and will resume in the next few years.

X Purdy, a senior studying psychology and broad field social sciences for teaching intent at UWSP, was involved with the pilot program through his role as the Gender and Sexuality Outreach Student Liaison.

"I hope these conversations will continue happening," Purdy said in an email. "Not just at the UWSP level, but also at the Board of Regents level so that we can get to a point where housing accommodations can be made for each students' needs, regardless of biological sex and gender identification."

Lauren French can be reached at 715-345-2258 and Lfrench2@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter as @Laurenkatef22.